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 5 Send stuff airmail! This means YOU! |
 6 Actually, 5 cents in 1920 is only 59 cents in 2015 dollars- a heck of a deal. |
 7 This is a typical set up |
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 13 Historical bucket! |
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 15 Example of the 1000W Mazda bulbs used. |
 16 Elko, Nevada was part of the last leg of the Post Office Department's transcontinental route. The New York City to Omaha, Nebraska, portion of the route had been in operation since May 1920. On September 8, 1920, the rest of the route, from Omaha to San Francisco, California was opened for airmail flights. Pilots traveled from on the route from Omaha to North Platte, Nebraska; Cheyenne, Rawlins and Rock Springs, Wyoming; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Elko and Reno, Nevada before landing in San Francisco. The initial westbound trip was made at the speed of 80 miles per hour and completed without a forced landing. 1920 Smithsonian |
 17 Airmail employees transferring airmail bags from one de Havilland (DH-4B) aircraft to another at the Reno, Nevada airmail field. On September 8, 1920, the Post Office Department completed the western leg of the nation's transcontinental flyway. Mail was flown through Reno on its way between San Francisco, California and New York City, New York. The 1921 "Transcontinental Air Mail Pilot's Log of Distances, Landmarks, and Flying Directions" provided to all airmail employees described Reno's airmail field as follows: "The air mail field at Reno lies two miles west of the city. The main runway lies east and west. The field is marked by a T and wind indicator. And landing from four ways is unobstructed. Reno is 4,497 feet above sea level. Whenever possible it is advisable to leave the Reno field on the east-west runway, taking off to the east. A slight downgrade enables the ship to quickly obtain flying speed. Just beyond the east edge of the field the ground is extremely rough and there is a huge ditch here." National Postal Museum, Curatorial Photographic Collection Photographer: Unknown |
 18 Sat view of the Humboldt Intermediate airfield relative to The Beacon. |